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Gardeners' Notes:

THERE IS A WITCH HAZEL TYPE SHRUB THAT HAS A DIFFERENT BOTANICAL NAME. IT IS SMALLER AND HAS YELLOW FLOWERS IN SPRING BUT THEY ARENT LONG AND STRINGY---THEY ARE YELLOW.
THE LEAVES LOOK LIKE A WITH HAZEL. CAN ANYONE HELP ME WITH THE NAME? I AM DRIVING MYSELF CRAZY.
THANKS, BRENDA
FEEL FREE TO SEND ANSWER TO travelgal@myemc.net

An attractive shrub or multitrunked understory tree native to moist woodlands of eastern N. America. It differs from the Asian witch hazels in blooming in late fall rather than late winter.

This tree can reach a height of 20-25' and as wide. It should be planted where it can reach its full size without disturbance. Pruning destroys its beautiful branching architecture.

I observe a lot of genetic variation in the number of flowers. The average wild plant is a lot less floriferous than any of the hybrid Asian witch hazels in commerce. But a few plants have a lot more flowers.

There's also a lot of genetic variability in the timing of bloom. Some bloom while still in leaf, others come into bloom only after the leaves drop. The latter are more ornamentally useful. I wish someone would select one and propagate it.

The sweet fragrance of the flowers is strong enough to carry on the air.

The flowers may seem anticlimactic on the heels of the yellow fall foliage display. If I had to choose one witch hazel for specimen use, I'd plant one of the Asian winter blooming varieties.

Tolerates considerable shade, but flowering is best in full sun with consistent moisture.

This plant can be propagated by layering, which takes a year.

Seeds take a year to ripen. Capsules burst explosively, with a loud sound, shooting the seeds up to 30'. To collect seeds, bag them in late summer, or cut the capsules off in late summer or early fall when ripe and allow to dry in a covered container. Seeds have a double dormancy requirement. Scarification may speed germination.

The seeds are said to have been a valued food among native Americans, and to taste like pistachios.

Dec. 2014: A freely flowering selection has been made commercially available: 'Harvest Moon'. There are now 5-8 different cultivars in commerce. Yay!

I've seen this plant wild in the shady, mature (climax) woods of se PA, sw Michigan, and northern DE. I occassioanlly see a few in landscapes, usually planted because of landscape architects. Large nurseries and native nurseries sell some. It is a high quality plant that is neat and clean. Handsome leaves get to 6" long x 3.5 " wide, develop good yellow or orange fall color, and stems have smooth gray bark, and small yellow flowers bloom in October, November, to early December. Grows about 1 ft/yr and lives 100 to 150 yrs. Can be a small tree, but usually a large shrub in regular landscapes. Grows in moist or draining wet soils acid or slightly alkaline; dislikes dry soils.

This small tree or tall shrub is often multi-trunked and usually grows10-15 ft. tall but can reach 35 ft. in height. The large, crooked, spreading branches form an irregular, open crown. The floral display of witch hazel is unique. Its fragrant, yellow flowers with strap-like, crumpled petals appear in the fall, persisting for some time after leaf drop. Lettuce-green, deciduous leaves maintain a rich consistency into fall when they turn brilliant gold. Bark is smooth and gray.

H. virginiana 'Harvest Moon' was planted, late this summer. It bloomed, as predicted, after most of the leaves were shed. This made the tiny flowers much easier to see. Its flower color did not, especially, carry and bloom did not last long, but the flowering period is unique, among the Hamamelis on this property.

A few year's ago Anne Raver wrote an article on the witch hazels in the NY Times contending that a cold period is needed for them to bloom and that the order of bloom was a function of the length of that cold period. Based on her contention, Hamamelis virginiana is not the last to bloom, but the first.

While I have never grown witch hazel here in Arlington, Texas, I do have fond memories of admiring both the appearance and fragrance of a large planting of witch hazel in bloom in Meadowbrook Park in east Fort Worth, years ago. These were well-established shrubs, professionally cared for, and presumably with the advantage of an irrigation system to tide them through the often hot and dry summers here. Dogwood trees do well here when properly established and well-mulched; and witch hazels appear to have similar requirements.

This species blooms in autumn, beginning while the leaves are still attached. The flowers continue to bloom through late fall and early winter, providing a long season of bloom. The seedpods ripen in the spring as new leaves emerge. A very beautiful shrub to grow for window viewing

According to legend, the forked branches of the Witch-Hazel, Hamamelis virginiana, can be used as a divining rod to detect groundwater sources. Liquid extracted from the bark is used for astringents. The capsulated fruit, when dry, can shoot the seeds up to a distance of 30 feet which is a good system of seed dispersal.